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Denver Developmental Screening Test II

United States · Denver Developmental Materials · 1967 (data through 1992)

One of the longest-running developmental screens, age-banded from birth through six years.

One of the longest-running developmental screens, age-banded from birth through six years.

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The shape of Denver Developmental Screening Test II

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birth1yr2yr3yr4yr5yr6yrMoves both arms and both legs actively and with roughly similar strength during awake periods. · 0–2moWhen placed on the belly, raises the head briefly enough to clear the surface. · 0–2moOpens the hands briefly during relaxed awake moments instead of keeping them tightly fisted throughout. · 0–2moVisually follows a nearby face or simple object as it moves slowly across the field of view. · 0–2moStartles, quiets, blinks, or otherwise reacts when there is a sudden loud sound. · 0–2moLooks at a caregiver's face during close interaction. · 0–2moBecomes calmer when picked up, held, or spoken to by a caregiver. · 0–2moProduces vocal sounds for reasons other than crying, such as brief vowel-like noises. · 1–2moOn the belly, lifts head and upper chest for a short period using neck and shoulder strength. · 1–3moSmiles back in response to a caregiver's face, voice, or smile. · 1–3moKeeps the head mostly stable when held upright or supported in a sitting position. · 2–4moLooks at the hands with interest during awake play. · 2–4moBrings one or both hands to the mouth for exploration or self-soothing. · 2–4moMakes soft vowel-like cooing sounds during calm interaction. · 2–4moKeeps hold of a small toy for a short time after it is placed in the hand. · 3–4moTurns the head or eyes toward a familiar speaking voice. · 3–4moSmiles or brightens toward an adult to invite attention or interaction. · 3–4moOn the belly, props the upper body on forearms and holds the head up. · 3–5moUses an arm or hand to bat toward a visible toy within reach. · 3–5moLaughs or chuckles during playful face-to-face interaction. · 3–5moTurns from lying on the stomach onto the back without being pulled or assisted. · 4–6moExtends the arm toward and grasps a toy the child appears to want. · 4–6moBrings safe objects to the mouth as part of exploration. · 4–6moResponds to an adult's speech with sounds of the child's own. · 4–6moShows clear recognition of familiar caregivers or family members. · 5–6moOn the belly, presses up through straightened arms to lift the chest well off the surface. · 5–7moMaintains a seated posture for several seconds by leaning forward on the hands. · 5–7moAttends to and appears interested in the image of self or caregiver in a mirror. · 5–7moWhen held upright, accepts some body weight through the legs with feet on a firm surface. · 5–8moMoves a toy or small object from one hand to the other during play. · 6–8moSits upright without adult support and keeps balance while using the hands for play. · 6–9moBabbles with consonant-and-vowel sounds such as repeated open syllables. · 6–9moUses several fingers in a raking motion to pull small food or objects toward the palm. · 7–9moUses longer strings of babble with changes in sound, rhythm, or pitch. · 7–9moShows caution, clinginess, or hesitation with unfamiliar people. · 7–9moLooks, turns, or pauses when the caregiver calls the child's name. · 7–10moMoves from lying or crawling posture into a sitting position independently. · 8–10moHolds two objects and strikes them together intentionally. · 8–10moLooks for an object that has fallen or moved out of sight instead of ignoring it. · 8–10moResponds when a caregiver leaves by reaching, looking after them, fussing, or crying. · 8–10moSmiles, laughs, or anticipates the adult's return during a simple hiding-and-reappearing game. · 8–10moRaises arms or otherwise signals clearly that the child wants to be picked up. · 8–10moUses furniture or a caregiver's hands to rise from the floor into standing. · 9–12moUses thumb and fingertip control to pick up a small piece of food or similar item. · 9–12moBriefly pauses or changes behavior after hearing a familiar stopping word such as no. · 10–12moParticipates in a simple back-and-forth social game with an adult. · 10–12moUses a hand gesture to greet or say goodbye in a familiar social routine. · 10–12moSteps sideways while holding furniture for balance and support. · 10–13moDrops or places a small object into an open container on purpose. · 10–13moRemoves a small object from an open container using the hands. · 10–13moUses a consistent special name for a parent or primary caregiver. · 10–13moPicks up and eats small pieces of safe food using the fingers. · 10–15moBalances in standing for a moment without holding on. · 11–14moTakes a few independent steps across open space, even if balance is still unsteady. · 12–15moUses at least one meaningful spoken word other than a parent name. · 12–15moLooks toward or selects a familiar object when an adult names it. · 12–15moCompletes a simple request when the adult pairs spoken words with a clear gesture. · 12–15moCopies a simple social action such as clapping during play or excitement. · 12–15moShows or offers an object to an adult to share interest, not only to get help. · 12–15moShows caring behavior toward a doll, stuffed toy, or familiar person, such as hugging or cuddling. · 12–15moHelps turn pages in a sturdy book, often moving more than one page at a time. · 12–18moWalks across a room without needing a hand, furniture, or a push toy for support. · 13–18moPlaces one small block or similar object on top of another so it remains stacked briefly. · 14–16moBends down to pick up an object from the floor and returns to standing without falling. · 14–18moMakes visible marks with a crayon or marker using broad hand or arm movements. · 15–18moAttempts three or more meaningful words besides parent names, even if pronunciation is immature. · 15–18moCooperates with dressing by pushing an arm through, lifting a foot, or otherwise assisting. · 15–18moCarries out a familiar one-step spoken request without needing a gesture. · 16–18moClimbs onto and down from a low adult chair or couch without adult lifting. · 16–20moCopies a familiar household action during play, such as wiping, sweeping, stirring, or using a toy phone. · 16–20moBuilds a small tower of three or more blocks without the stack immediately falling. · 18–24moShows at least two body parts when asked verbally. · 18–24moAttempts to feed self with a spoon during meals, with some spilling expected. · 18–24moMoves faster than a walk with an early running pattern, even if stopping and turning are immature. · 20–24moUses both hands together, such as holding a container with one hand while opening or removing something with the other. · 20–24moCombines two meaningful words into a short phrase to request, label, or comment. · 21–24moIndicates a named picture or object in a book when asked. · 21–24moPauses, looks concerned, or seeks an adult when another person appears hurt or upset. · 21–24moSwings a foot forward to kick a ball that is still on the floor. · 22–26moWalks up several steps using a wall, rail, or adult hand for balance. · 22–30moLeaves the floor with both feet together during a small jump. · 24–30moTurns sturdy book pages one page at a time during shared reading. · 24–30moRotates the hand or wrist to turn a knob, loosen a lid, or twist a similar object. · 24–30moUses a spoken vocabulary of roughly fifty words across familiar daily contexts. · 24–30moUses short word combinations that include an action word to describe what is happening. · 24–30moNames a familiar item in a picture when an adult points to it and asks. · 24–30moUses early self-referential words such as I, me, or we in everyday speech. · 24–30moPlays near other children and may join them briefly in simple shared activity. · 24–30moFollows a familiar simple routine when prompted, such as helping put toys away. · 24–30moTakes off simple loose clothing items, such as an open jacket or elastic-waist pants, without adult help. · 24–30moWashes and dries hands independently · 30–36moPuts on clothing with minimal help · 30–36moCopies a circle · 30–36moNames at least one color correctly · 30–36moUses two-word sentences combining verb and noun · 30–36moKicks ball forward · 30–36moJumps with both feet leaving the ground · 30–36moPlays cooperatively with peers in simple group games · 36–42moDraws recognizable figure with head · 36–42moNames four colors correctly · 36–42moCounts four objects by touching each · 36–42moUses plural forms correctly · 36–42moUses pronouns accurately · 36–42moWalks heel-to-toe along a line · 36–42moPerforms standing broad jump · 36–42moDraws a person with at least three body... · 42–48moFollows three-part sequential instruction · 42–48moTells about recent experiences coherently · 42–48moBalances on one foot for two seconds · 42–48moCatches bounced ball with hands · 42–48moEngages in cooperative rule-based play · 48–54moPrints first name · 48–54moCopies a triangle · 48–54moCounts ten objects correctly · 48–54moNames at least four colors · 48–54moSkips alternating feet · 48–54moDresses independently including fasteners · 54–60moDraws person with six or more body parts · 54–60moDefines simple words by function or category · 54–60moNames opposite concepts · 54–60moBalances on one foot for five seconds · 54–60moEngages in complex dramatic play with sustained narrative · 60–66moCopies a diamond shape · 60–66moDefines words using abstract or relational language · 60–66moCarries out three-step sequential commands with memory delay · 60–66moTies shoelaces · 66–72moCounts beyond twenty in sequence · 66–72moReads own first name · 66–72moHops on one foot five or more times · 66–72moco-emergence peak · 0–21mo
Domain:
Denver II · 129 milestones · sorted by entry month, earliest at bottom

Denver II milestones (129)

Grouped by domain · by age

Gross Motor (31)

Fine Motor-Adaptive (30)

Language (38)

Personal-Social (30)

About Denver Developmental Screening Test II

What is the Denver II?

The Denver II is one of the longest-standing developmental screens in paediatric practice. First published as the Denver Developmental Screening Test and restandardised in 1992, it gives clinicians a quick way to check whether a child's development is tracking within the typical range from birth through about six years.

How it is structured

It covers four areas — Gross Motor, Fine Motor-Adaptive, Language, and Personal-Social. Each item is a behaviour with a normative age range showing when most children attain it, so a child's progress can be read against a well-established age band.

How Learning Curve represents it

The Denver II is a proprietary instrument, so Learning Curve holds none of its actual test items. What appears here are plain-language descriptions of the behaviours each area screens for, written by Learning Curve and grounded in the published Denver structure and age windows, with attribution to Frankenburg and colleagues. It is used as a normative reference point — one more independent voice on when a behaviour typically appears — not as a reproduction of the test.

Methodology & sources

Citation

Frankenburg, W. K., Dodds, J., Archer, P., et al. (1992). The Denver II: a major revision and restandardization of the Denver Developmental Screening Test. Pediatrics, 89(1), 91–97.

Also indexed under: assessments